Forty years ago, on March 18, 1974, a school record less than two weeks old was shattered by seven strokes as Coach Ed Williams’ East Union High golf team defeated Sonora High 192-201 on the local course. The Lancers were led once again by Ken Webb. The senior golfer carded a 36 for nine holes, despite a double bogey on the first hole.



In other sports stories from the Bulletin files:

30 years ago: March 19, 1984 – Rick Halseth had the day‘s lowest score, carding a 37, as the Manteca High golf team whipped Los Banos High 204-232 on the Forebay Golf Course in Los Banos.

The Manteca High tennis team fell for the first time this season, losing to Livingston High by a 3-2 score. Lance Purdy was a singles winner for the Buffaloes and the doubles team of Joe Horton-Robbie Agdoma provided the MHS team with the other triumph.

Manteca High’s Dana Carney and Johnny Flores and East Union High’s Chris Indelicato are among 27 North team players who will play in the 1984 version of the Lions All-star Central California football game.

East Union High conducted its sports award social Wednesday night at the school. Named as the Lancer soccer MVP was Mickey Anguiano. Nancy Nunes and Paul Emperador were the basketball MVP’s.

Lottie Castro lined a hard-hit single past the pitcher to bring in the winning run and cap a furious five-run rally in the bottom of the final inning as East Union High came from behind to down defending VOL champion Oakdale High 5-4 in softball action.

Modesto High erupted for seven runs in the last inning to break open a close game and capture a 10-3 victory over Manteca High. Gina Buzzini had two of the Lady Buff hits.

The East Union High golf team jumped into the win column for the first time this season with a 233-240 triumph over Los Banos High. As usual, Mike Battles led the way for the Lancers, posting a 41 for low score of the day.

Dana Carney captured three first-place finishes and was part of the winning relay team, and for only the second time in 30 years, the Manteca High track squad downed Oakdale High by a 95-38 count. It was a big win for Coach Lindsay Munoz. Carney captured the 120 HH, the 100 and 200 meters. In girls’ track action, sophomore Joyce Spradlin was in on four first-place showings to pace the Lady Buffs to a 71-56 victory over Oakdale. Spradlin won the 440 and the 220 and was also part of two winning relay teams.

Coach Doug Smith’s East Union High baseball team showed no resemblance at all to last year’s 2-19 team, and disposed of Oakdale High 4-0 behind the six-hit pitching of Chris Indelicato and Eric Duarte. Jim Wise had a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for EU, including a double.

Senior pitcher Sam Ochoa fired a two-hit shutout and Manteca High strung together three runs in the seventh inning to capture a 3-0 victory over Modesto High in the VOL opener for both teams at Modesto’s Thurman Field. Kelly Webb collected two hits in the win, including a double.

20 years ago: March 22, 1994 – The East Union High baseball team snapped itself out of a two-game slump at the plate to rack up 12 hits en route to a 13-6 home win over Edison High of Stockton on Monday. Leading the way for EU were Matt Solomon and Gene Ballardo, who each stroked two doubles. Solomon drove in five runs, while Ballardo batted in four runs.

While the East Union High girls swam to an easy victory, the Lancer boys had to settle for a strange finish—a tie—in a meet against Tracy High on Friday. The Lady Lancers placed first in all but one event and swept the top three spots four times against the undermanned Lady Bulldogs for a 126-35 win at the THS pool. In the boys’ clash, Tracy’s 400-yard relay team won the meet’s final race to gain a 79.5-79.5 deadlock with the Lancers. The Hellums sisters, Tina and Felicia, captured both the 50 free and 500 free and both were members of the 200 IM and 400 relay teams. Topping the efforts for the Lancer boys were Brett Hinton and David Coenenberg. Hinton won the 100 free and 200 IM, while Coenenberg stroked to first in the 100 backstroke.

Manteca High’s swimmers have yet to be tested in three encounters this season. On Friday, the Buffalo boys and girls swept VOL foes Ceres High and West High of Tracy. The Buff boys, who haven’t lost a league meet in six seasons, dunked Ceres 126-42 and West 129-23. Matt Gouaux, Brad Masterson, John Lowery and Skip Stellhorn each won two individual events and were key members of the top relay teams. In girls’ competition, the Lady Buffs charged past Ceres 114-56 and downed West 132-32. MHS’s Becky Pendexter and Natalie Nobriga were untouchable in their two events against both teams. Pendexter won the 100 fly and 100 breast, while Nobriga cruised to victory in the 200 free and 100 free.

Matt Kiser’s leadoff home run in the fifth sparked the offense and pitcher Don Morgan battled through seven tough innings for the complete-game victory as Manteca High scored a 10-8 win over Edison High of Stockton on Friday . Kiser’s homer sparked the Buffaloes to score seven runs in the inning and he also singled the second time he came to bat in the frame. Morgan scattered 10 hits to pick up the win.

Amy Denny tossed a three-hitter in a 4-0 blanking of Carlmont High of Belmont Friday at the Lincoln Softball Tournament as East Union High won its fifth straight game. Angie Long was the plate star as she batted in all four runs with an RBI-single, a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly.

Manteca High dropped a 3-1 decision to Modesto High at the Turlock Softball Tournament on Friday, despite another strong outing from freshman pitcher Ranette Sousa. The Lady Buffs took an early 1-0 lead when Leann Jobin walked, stole second and eventually scored on a ground ball by Jamie Plath.

East Union High singles player Louie Tremor won two of his three matches and the doubles team of Danny Norman-Jeff Hinkley swept its two matches as the Lancer tennis team beat Ceres High 9-6 Friday.

Manteca High picked up its first VOL tennis win of the season Tuesday at the expense of their cross-town rivals at East Union High. The Buffs won 9.5-4.5. Helios Martinez and Levi Frisk won all four of their singles matches.

The Manteca High golf team saved a six-stroke win over Oakdale High at the Oakdale Country Club Thursday afternoon, 220-226. Ethaan Boyer shot a 39 in his nine holes to lead the Buffalo swingers.

The East Union High golf team scored a convincing 212-232 road win over Los Banos High Friday to improve to 5-0 in VOL play. Brett Sapp carded a 38 over wind-swept Forebay Golf Course in Santa Nella to earn medalist honors.

First-year Manteca High girls’ soccer coach Bill Noceti was named the VOL’s Coach of the Year and East Union High seniors Kim Pate and Danielle Eckard tied in the balloting for league MVP. The league-champion Lady Lancers finished with six first-team selections. Eckard, Pate, Jessica Hensley, Tonya Silva and Meghan Harris were the EU selections. Sophomore Maria Trevino was the only Manteca High all-league choice.



10 years ago: March 25, 2004 – Manteca High coach Erik Brink wasn’t doing cartwheels as his team managed to top Sierra High in a 10-8 barn burner despite seven defensive errors yesterday. The Timberwolves committed four errors themselves. Buffalo leadoff batter Shane Farmer went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and scored twice. For the T’wolves, Casey O’Neil got a single, a walk and scored two runs.

Buhach Colony High stole a win at Manteca Park golf course on Wednesday in the fourth VOL match of the year. The Thunder swingers shot a 406 score while East Union High came in at 417, Sierra High 419 and Manteca High 444. EU’s Erickson Parker placed second with a 78, SHS’s Josh Wampler shot an 81, and the top Buff, Ryan Silva, carded an 82.

The Sierra High tennis doubles combination of Kyle Davis and Ray Malencio continued their tear through the VOL competition Wednesday during a 13-2 blowout of visiting Manteca High. Davis and Malencio performed in dominating fashion by sweeping their two matches and singles player Brian Phommachit won all three of his matches. Chris Buccieri scored both Buffalo points by winning his matches.

The defending VOL champion East Union High tennis team wrapped up the first go-round of the regular season with a 13-2 shellacking of host Sonora High Wednesday to remain on top of the conference standings at 8-0. Singles players Chris Vaught and Tim Slade won all of their matches as did the doubles teams of Drew Pearson-Travis Haroldsen and Jerry Gammon-Joe Rocha.

and Field Invitational on Saturday at Stanislaus State University. In girls’ action, the Lady Buffs took sixth, while the Lady Lancers were eighth. The Lancers were led by Carl Crawford, who won the 100 meters and took the 200 meters, as well. The EU girls were led by Kathy Stephenson, ending fourth in the 800 and fifth in the 1600. The Buffaloes were paced by John May’s first place in the shot put and Leo Terry winning the discus. Robin Meyer led the Lady Buffs with a first in the 800.